A Bible, Revival, & A Pair of Soft-Soled Shoes

My greatest teacher is age ten. This grade-schoolers shows me continually what it means to love, live, and give, like Jesus.

We shut our umbrella’s, drive home from soccer, and race into the house to get ready for our Hope Group.

The clock keeps ticking, my mind was reeling, and I imagine people coming early, seeing dishes, and dirt, and toys everywhere.

“Can I go get the mail.” She randomly asks, crossing our country road to pick up the mail that was likely lingering for days.

I Pine-sol the bathroom, Windex the windows, Care for the needs of our foster daughter before people start come.

From the corner of my eye, I see my ten-year-old take a ten and a five from her purse.

Not thinking much of it…I keep on cleaning.

And how often am I busy doing “God’s work” and fail to notice the little ways God’s leading, His Spirit drawing hearts who think of others instead of themselves.

From the side of my eye, I see her again.

“Two-fifty”, she reasons with herself. Finally I get suspicious.

I slow my business and see my once clean tables scattered with an envelope, a pencil, and the money my daughter has collected.

“What are you doing?” I finally beckon.

“I am giving my money to buy a Bible for a child who doesn’t have one.” Her words pierce me.

I see the envelope, a list of items needed for sponsor children in third world countries, and sure enough the category, “Purchase a Bible” darkened on the check list of needs.

And in moments like these, we can loose sight of what really matters, miss the beauty and miracle in humble, quiet, unseen sacrifices, like these.

And I think about our churches collection for Food for the Hungry. And that time I saved a year, to buy a well for some third world country.

Deep inside, my hearts wasn’t 100% pure.

And how often do we give, to be seen, or as if it’s a way to buy ourselves out of hell?

But here, my child, didn’t seek to be recognized. She didn’t weigh, and have to “pray about it”. She just saw a need and instantly followed her heart and His Spirit leading.

And…

• How might the world change if we had pure hearts to give….our right hand not seeing what our left hand was doing?
• How might others needs be less if we truly had two coats, and gave one away…out of the abundance of our hearts?
• How might our hearts live, less gripped, more open handed, if we choose to be conduits, instead of good-church-people, simply because…it the religious thing to do?

And I am convinced…

God sees the gift-giver, not the gift. He counts the cost to the person, deducting the pride in which we give in…

And honestly, how many of my gifts have excluded themselves, when I weigh it with ego, and accept some praise for doing things…

Instead of giving God all the glory.

The Bible costs $12.00, $12.00. She gave $15.00. And how is it a child understands generosity, and we don’t?

“What’s the $2.50 for?” I finally had to ask.

“Mom, I also want to buy one child a pair of soft shoes,” She tells me.

And did she knows the gospel always must accompany feet?

That a Bible was never meant to be collecting dust, and that we are called to “go” and to bring it to the nations.

And yet, we can go, and miss the chance to share His Word. Or have feet without the Word, not having any fruit.

And did she know, “Feet shod with the gospel of peace” is in Scripture? It’s call is both Biblical and mandatory?

I see her place fifty cents in the envelope. I can’t bare to tell her change might not fly well.

She licks the envelope, then addresses the return address with my name upon it.

And who gives in the name of another, without getting credit? Who offers a gift, and doesn’t want any recognition? 

I am still busy getting ready for people entering, but know this is a teachable moment…The real student being, “me”.

I place the envelope on the window seal, give her a quick squeeze, and tell her how proud I am of her…just as the guests start coming.

My husband leads…and the subject of the evening? Just so happens to be, money.

Tithing is discussed. We read in our notebooks. We talk aout what we should and shouldn’t do, how we have succeeded and failed at finances….

And then I feel Him prompting me more, “Tell her story.”

So, I share about my ten-year-old, how she teaches me what giving really looks like, and how God cares more about the joy in our heart in giving, than the amount we put in the envelope.

And that the reality is, money is just an outward symbol of our inward heart condition…And how anything can be an idol if we cling to it too tight and refuse to give it. 

Tears start stream. People are visibly moved by the testimony of my ten-year-old.

• And I think about Jesus, young, innocent, walking in obedience, not a slave to rules or intellectualism.
• I remember Timothy…That although he was young, God used him to minister to people.
• And the boy with the fish and the loaves….who gave it all to feed 5,000, but ended up with more as a result of his love and outward generosity.

Many start pouring out the things keeping them, from a fuller walk with God. His Spirit starts moving and hearts start coming alive.

The things keeping us from God, are recognized, and laid before the throne…And some might even say, seeds of revival starts taking root…

All because of a ten-year-old, and her heart to give others…A Bible a a pair of soft sole shoes.

Yes, my ten-year-old is my greatest teacher. She teaches me daily, what it means to love, live, and give…

Like Jesus.